Renewed Levies Help Mentally Ill & Recovering Addicts

This year’s election turned into a big win for the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board serving Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble and Perry Counties. 

Voters in Coshocton, Morgan and Noble Counties renewed levies to help fund services for mental health and addiction services. Executive Director Rod Hollingsoworth says he’s thankful to the voter’s who helped pass the levies.

"In Morgan County we passed by 65 percent, in Noble county by 62 percent and in Coshocton by 54 percent," said Hollingsworth. "And we’ve had times in some counties where we’ve passed on the recount because it was so close, but we were thrilled."

Hollingsworth says the levy money is the foundation for applying for state and federal dollars

"Our board is like an administrative funding board and we don’t provide services directly. We’ll be funding 6 county community heath services in those counties. We fund drug and alcohol programs in each of those counties and we fund tompkins child and adolescent services."

Hollingsworth, who has been with the Mental Health and Recovery Board for 36 years, is retiring in December. He says having all three levies pass is a career high for him.